SPECIAL EDUCATION, COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND TRANSITION FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES Jacqueline L. Cruse, Outreach Coordinator The Arc: Greater Houston 3737 Dacoma, Suite E, Houston, Texas 77292 713.957.1600 ext. 113 jacqueline@aogh.org www.aogh.org
Special Education To ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for FURTHER EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, and INDEPENDENT LIVING; Special Education Rules and Regulations http://framework.esc18.net/docs/side-by-side_jan_2010.pdf
Initial Evaluation Each public agency shall ensure that a Full and Individual Evaluation is conducted (1) To determine if the child is a "child with a disability ; and (2) To determine the educational needs of the child. Evaluation Procedures- The child is assessed in all areas related to the suspected disability, including, if appropriate, health, vision, hearing, social and emotional status, general intelligence, academic performance, communicative status, and motor abilities Time Frames: Discuss
Determination of Eligibility - 13 ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS AU (Autism) SI (Speech Impairment) OI (Orthopedic Impairment) AI (Auditory Impairment) VI (Visual Impairment) OHI (Other Health Impairment D/B (Deaf Blindness) MR (Mental Retardation) ID (Intellectual Disability) ED (Emotional Disturbance) LD (Learning Disability) MD (Multiple Disabilities) TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) Non-Categorical (ages 3-5 in Texas) A child will have, at minimum, one of these labels or he/she may have multiple labels (from these choices only). The evaluation must access the child in all areas related to the suspected disability.
ARD Meetings Initial Annual Triennial (3 yr. Re-evaluation) Note: (may be held at other times if requested by Parent or School)
ATTENDANCE AT THE ARD MEETING Parent School personnel who must attend: the Special Education teacher Someone qualified to interpret/explain test /evaluation results, i.e. Diagnostician, LSSP (Licensed Specialist School Psychologist) Administrative person who can make decisions about what services can/cannot be provided by the school, i.e. Principal, Assistant Principal Regular Education teacher, if the child is going to attend any Regular Education classes *Speech Pathologists/OT s/pt s are not required to attend. Parents can request them, but schools may refuse. * * Parents should inform school personnel (in writing) that they plan to have someone attend the ARD
THE AGENDA OF THE MEETING Waivers /Signatures /Procedural Safeguards Review of Evaluation(s) Determination of Eligibility Present Levels of Academic Achievement & Functional Performance (PLAAFP) Create IEPs State Tests [STAAR Accommodated, STAAR-M, STAAR-A, STAAR-Alt] Determination of services, accommodations and modifications -- special services, support programs Determination of placement Reading of Minutes/Deliberations NOTE: STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT Signatures
Placement IDEA requires that students with disabilities be educated in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) possible in the environments that allows for the most opportunities to be educated with students without disabilities. Behavior Support SLC (Structured Learning Center) Life Skills (SLL - Skills for Learning and Living) Content Mastery/Co-Teach/In-Class Support General Education PALS Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills Resource Resource
SERVICES Special Education Instruction - specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability. Example: (teachers, speech-language are special education services) Related services help children with disabilities benefit from their Special Education by providing extra help and support in needed areas Examples: transportation, OT, PT, counseling, assistive technology, counseling, In Home Training, augmentative communication device, taped lectures, etc. Modifications Accommodations
Related Services - Important Points to be included in the ARD paperwork: frequency and amount of time of services CONSIDERATIONS FOR RELATED SERVICES direct or indirect (with child or teacher consult) group or individual (one-on-one vs. group) services to be provided name/title of service provider how and when progress will be reported to the parent
Creating Goals Once the PLAAFP is created, the ARD/IEP Committee will determine which specific area(s) of need will be addressed through measurable annual goals and the use of supplementary aids and special education services. Teachers/Special Ed Personnel/Parents start with grade-level standards (TEKS, STAARS) for the student because they are able to compare the student s skills as they related to the grade level expectations of non-disabled students. HISD School Curriculum for Grade/Subject Level Objectives www.houstonisd.org/portal/site/curriculum
What is an IEP? IEP is an acronym for an Individual Education Plan An IEP goal is a written statement for each child with a disability estimating what action a child will be able to successfully accomplish in a given area within a given time frame. An IEP contains goals, services, placement, accommodations, modifications and the type of state level testing the child will take. They must be created, updated and measured annually. Annual, Bench-Mark and Short-Term Goals
FBA and BIP Functional Behavior Assessment Behavior Intervention Plan
Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) Functional Behavior Assessments help IEP teams to: understand what function the problem behavior(s) serve for the students create interventions that reduce or eliminate problem behavior(s) by replacing them with more acceptable behavior(s) that serve the same purpose or function for the student.
Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) After the function of a behavior has been discovered through FBA, a positive Behavior Intervention Plan is created that addresses the source of the problem and teaches new, appropriate behaviors that serve the same positive function as the problem behavior.
What is the AU Supplement? The Autism Supplement facilitates ARD/IEP Committee discussion of peer reviewed researchbased practices and strategies for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The ARD/IEP Committee reviews available data and determines which practices should be included in the student s IEP based on individual need. The following describes the focus of discussion for each of the eleven practices/strategies:
The AU Supplement Extended Educational Programming Daily Schedule Reflecting Minimal Unstructured Time In-Home and Community-Based Training Positive Behavior Support Strategies Futures Planning Parent and Family Training Staff to Student Ratio Communication Interventions Social Skills Supports and Strategies Professional Educator and Staff Supports Teaching Strategies
ESY Extended School Year List qualifying ESY criteria any of the factors listed below, alone or in combination, can trigger the need for ESY services. This decision is made by the ARD/IEP Committee. Regression and/or Recoupment Emerging Skills/Breakthrough Opportunities Interfering Behaviors Nature and/or Severity of the Disability Special Circumstances
Community Resources
D.A.D.S. D.A.R.S. D.S.H.S. D.F.P.S.
D.A.D.S. Medicaid Waiver Programs CLASS Community Living & Support Services HCS Home & Community-Based Services MDCP Medically Dependent Children Program DBMD Deaf/Blind/Multiple Disabilities TXHML Texas Home Living Waiver PHC Primary Home Care D.A.D.S. (Home Page) - www.dads.state.tx.us www.dads.state.tx.us/services/index.cfm 1.800.458.9858
D.A.R.S. Programs Home Page - www.dars.state.tx.us - 1.800.628.5115 Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is a statewide program for families with children, birth to three, with disabilities and developmental delays. DARS Vocational Rehabilitation Services: A Pathway to Employment - The DARS program help Texans with disabilities find or keep jobs. Services may include training and education, medical services, diagnostic and evaluative services, prosthetic devices, durable medical equipment, assistive technologies, transportation, and vehicle modifications, among other services. Blind Children s Vocational Discovery and Development Program (BCVDDP) If your child is blind or visually impaired, BCVDDP may be able to help you, your child, and your entire family. Children between the ages of birth and 22 years who live in Texas and have vision impairment are eligible for services. BCVDDP can assist your child in developing the confidence and competence needed to be OVERVIEW an active part OF of THE their SPECIALIZED community; Provide TELECOMMUNICATIONS training in areas like food preparation, ASSISTANCE money management, PROGRAM recreational (STAP) activities and grooming. www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs/servicesmanual/ch5.htm
MHMRA of Harris County The Mental Health part of MHMRA falls under the umbrella of DSHS (Department www.mhmraharris.org of State Health Services) The Mental Retardation part of MHMRA falls under the umbrella of DADS (Department of Aging & Disability Services Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Services (with an IQ below 70 for MR(ID) and IQ below 75 for Autism) www.mhmraharris.org/mrsd/mr.html 713.970.7070 Children, Adolescent and Adult Mental Health Services http://www.mhmraharris.org/child-and-adolescent-services.asp#
Region 4 Education Service Center www.esc4.net 713.462.7708 The largest Texas educational service center, Region 4 Education Service Center (Region 4), provides services to 53 school districts representing over 1,000,000 students and more than 83,000 professional educators. Region 4 is the 1 st point of contact for families regarding special education issues. Region 4 provides some trainings for parents and parents may be able to attend other various trainings held at Region 4.
Transition Planning
SPECIAL EDUCATION AND YOUR CHILD S FUTURE EMPLOYMENT Further Education INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS
Home Page - www.dars.state.tx.us - 1.800.628.5115 DARS Vocational Rehabilitation Services: A Pathway to Employment - The DARS program has one goal: to help Texans with disabilities find or keep jobs. The vocational rehabilitation program works with consumers to develop individualized plans to meet their needs. Services may include training and education, medical services, diagnostic and evaluative services, prosthetic devices, durable medical equipment, assistive technologies, transportation, and vehicle modifications, among other services. **Transition ARD begins at age 14 per ARD/IEP Committee
The VAST Program (Vocational Advancement & Social Skills Training) 713-718-6833 http://central.hccs.edu/central/career-technology/human-development-lifeskills/occupational-life-skills/program-information/vast-department-of-occupationallife-skills VAST Department of Occupational Life Skills (for those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) The goal of the VAST Department is to provide educational opportunities and support services to "differently abled" individuals with disabilities, Students with "ability" levels ranging from 2nd through 8th grade levels and above benefit from our comprehensive student support services and diverse course offering. VAST has three components: Life Skills Certificates, Office Skills Training and Pre-College Skills Development courses.
H.E.A.R.T. Housing, Entrepreneurship And Readiness Training http://www.heartprogram.org The program provides Occupational Skills Training to low-income developmentally disabled adults residing within the city limits of Houston, Texas. The purpose of the H.E.A.R.T. program is to prepare the participants for gainful employment through an innovative client-managed entrepreneurial venture. Stage 1 prepares the participants for employment by providing individualized assessments and job readiness training. Stage 2 allows the participants to work both within the general community and in a sheltered workshop as appropriate, through the client managed entrepreneurial venture, H.E.A.R.T. Vending and Concessions.
Parent Education Project University of Houston Transition Workgroup Meeting Various Topics and Speakers Meets Every odd Month, 6:00pm 7:30pm Shriners Hospital, 6977 Main Street Pizza & Drinks provided free. For more information, contact Olga Guerra at 713.743.5592 or 713.743.0608 **Please call if you need translation services provided.
SPECIAL EDUCATION, COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND TRANSITION FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES Jacqueline L. Cruse, Outreach Coordinator The Arc: Greater Houston 3737 Dacoma, Suite E, Houston, Texas 77292 713.957.1600 ext. 113 jacqueline@aogh.org www.aogh.org